[asterisk-biz] How to live in this world without job

[Alex Balashov]

I think I would agree philosophically, especially about the fact that 
demand for professional services on a consulting basis is more resilient 
in a downturn environment than job security or stability.

As you say, things still need to get done, and this way they can be done 
while paying a consultant less than would be necessary to pay for a 
full-time employee to handle the task - both in terms of money and 
opportunity cost.  Consultants/contractors do not require benefits, and 
do not have to be trained or kept continuously busy/paid beyond the 
requirements of the project, or otherwise organisationally accommodated. 
  Despite the much higher project or hourly rates, this makes 
consultants eminently more affordable and a wiser economic decision in 
many situations.

I would, however, throw in a cautionary note whose general effect is 
that freelance consulting as a full-time professional endeavour is 
governed by the same laws of economics and marketplace realities as any 
other business endeavour.  So, I think my concern is with universalising 
this path or suggesting that it is for everyone or even for most people. 
  Being on your own as a contractor isn't going to bring automatic 
money, prosperity, or even survival any more than anything else is 
automatic.

As a successful freelancer, I am confident you already know this very 
intimately.  But I think it's important that people thinking about doing 
it understand this.

Most of what can be said about the sustainability of this approach can 
be summed up as:  "There's a difference between a [successful] business 
model and 'doing work for money.'"

People in the latter category generally end up feeling like they have 
the worst of all worlds - no security, working twice (or more) as much 
for half (or less) the money, and 8 different bosses (clients).  If you 
end up in this situation, the "emancipatory" feelings of "escaping" the 
"slavery of the 21st century" (the 9 to 5) can evaporate faster than you 
can say "I'd be making more on the unemployment dole."

Steve Totaro wrote:

> Andy, read the book "Who Moved my Cheese".
> 
> China is or has put an economic stimulus package to the tune of ~$550 
> billion.  If done correctly, that may help the market, but I figure that 
> government officials and top businessmen will pocket the cash.
> 
> Anyways, I found that having a "Job" is not for me.  I used to think the 
> way you did and perhaps if it were the old days where people in the US 
> had job security, a great retirement package, and all the benefits, I 
> may think differently, but probably not.
> 
> Andy, you need to be a "Freelancer".  Freelancer/Consultants usually do 
> well in economic downturns because while full time people are being laid 
> off or fired, things still need to get done.  As a Consultant, you 
> charge a much higher price per hour or per task than you would as a 
> "Full Time Employee". 
> 
> The company that contracts you for a project makes out very well usually 
> and so do you if you can stay busy. 
> 
> Anyways, I hope you had enough income to save a bit when you had a "Job" 
> so you could save a bit. 
> 
> It is time to re--invent "Andy" as an expert in his niche.  Learn to 
> sell, you will need to sell yourself, your services, and be able to sit 
> down with anyone at a company and change your sales pitch depending on 
> who your audience is.  If it is a techie, then technical sales pitch, 
> CEO get to increased productivity/doing more with less, Accountant 
> obviously wants to hear about return on investment.
> 
> They are virtually the same pitches, but slightly different, due to the 
> focus of the audience.  An accountant does not want to hear about techie 
> stuff (usually).
> 
> Bottom line, tighten your belt, spend less, cut costs, find a niche, 
> figure the most cost effective way to get work, and work on selling 
> yourself and services. 
> 
> Andy, what you really need to do is stop worrying, not only will it 
> shorten your life, make you miserable as well as others close to you, it 
> will prevent you from seeing and seizing opportunity. 
> 
> If I was picking a contractor, and had two people come in to sell their 
> offerings, I will most certainly choose the person that didn't seem very 
> worried.  Whoever presents and interacts personally well with me will 
> get the contract (or even job) providing all things being equal except 
> attitude and presentation.


-- 
Alex Balashov
Evariste Systems
Web    : http://www.evaristesys.com/
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